The Scottish Usability Lab at

1
SOUL

• The Scottish Usability Lab at
• IC CAVE
• University of Abertay Dundee
• www.iccave.org
• info_at_iccave.org

2
Who are we? What do we do?

• IC CAVE launched 2000
• ERDF, SHEFC, Dundee City Council SET
• University research centre dedicated to computer
  games and virtual entertainment
• Multidisciplinary team
• E-learning games and web applications
• SOUL launched 2003 funded by ESEP European Social
  Economic Partnership
• Assist and benefit our industries not compete
  with them

3
Wheres the demand?

• Games companies concentrated around Eastern
  Scotland
• Localisation of games from other territories
• Charities
• Learning centres
• Academics wanting to develop software
• Anyone who needs support and a strong partner for
  a grant application

4
Why the demand?

• Know thy users for they are not you (HFI,
  Inc.)
• Different territories different preferences
• Understand preferences understand market
• Understand market appeal to that market
• Usability allows developers to view game from
  real users perspective
• Avoid costly mistakes and delays
• Maximise gameplay and appeal

www.humanfactors.com
5
Concept Game Usability

• Theoretical model currently in press (Joyner
  TerKeurst, 2004)
• Focuses on a players motivation to play games
• Game playing as need fulfilment
• Enables understanding of play preferences
  market
• Please contact me for more information
• L.joyner_at_abertay.ac.uk

6
Services

• Concept/idea Focus groups, advice on design
• Alpha/beta User observation analysis, focus
  groups, questionnaires, gaze analysis
• Final product User observation analysis,
  questionnaires gaze analysis to establish
  benchmark

7
Further reading

• Literature available from IC CAVE
• SOUL IC CAVE brochures
• Different strokes, A. Heavens, Edge, Feb 2004
• Creativity is not enough Global best practice
  in digital game publishing, J. TerKeurst (Ed.),
  2003
• Games are like fruit Japanese best practice in
  digital game development, J. TerKeurst et al.,
  2002
• Mobilising entertainment content North American
  best practice in mobile entertainment, J.
  TerKeurst (Ed.), 2002
• For literature and more information please
  contact
• l.joyner_at_abertay.ac.uk
• info_at_iccave.org